Eye protector



Oct. 31, 1950 M. LOOS 2,527,947

EYE PROTECTOR Filed Dec. 22, 1947 awucwytm .f/aaae Zoos Patented Oct.31, 1950 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE Marie Loos, Fort Wayne',Ind.'Application December 22, 1947, Serial No. 793,262

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in eye shields, pads, or the like,and is designed for use not only when a sun bath is to be taken, butalso when it is desired to rest the eyes.

Shields or pads have been heretofore proposed for protecting the eyeswhen taking a sun bath, artificial or otherwise. Also, compressesconsisting of wads of cotton or cloth moistened with witch hazel, eyelotion or water have been used upon the closed eye to rest and refreshsame. However, such expedients are objectionable on a number of scores.

In the first place, such prior art eye shields have required adhesivestrips to secure them in place; or they have been spectacle-like in formwith a nose bridge and the equivalent of temple bars for keeping them inplace. Such expedients leave white streaks or areas, thus preventing theuser from getting an even sun tan. And wads of cloth or cotton coveringas they do a considerable area of the face adjacent the eye aresimilarly obj ectionable.

It is therefore the primary object of my invention to overcome theobjections noted and provide eye pads or shields which, while composedof fabric or other kindred material so as to be flexible and conform tothe shape of the closed eye, will nevertheless remain in place withoutresorting to adhesive strips or a spectacle-like holding frame.

More specifically stated, the invention contemplates a lexible pad orshield which is preferably largely composed of fabric or fabric-likematerial and which, partly by reason of its shape and partly by reasonof a multiple ply body formation, will, when wetted, conform to thecontour of the eyeball and thereafter retain such shape so as to remainin place upon the closed upper lid even when a stiff wind is blowing.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a flexible multipleply pad or shield for the purpose specified having an outershape-defining and retaining ply which is exposed to the sun, and whichouter ply is heavier and less pervious to moisture than is the innereyelid-contacting ply, whereby the medicated or other solution withwhich the pad is saturated will mainly evaporate through the thinlid-covering ply of the pad to cool the users eyes. The outer orshape-defining ply can be given the characteristics noted by applyingthereto a layer of plastic or plastic-adhesive which may be availed offor'securing adjacent plies together.

Other objects and advantages of the invention Will become apparent asthe description proceeds,

. 2 reference being had to the accompanying drawing which illustratesthe now preferred example of the invention.

It is to be understood, however, that my inventive concept issusceptible of other mechanical expressions within the spirit and scopeof the subject matter claimed hereinafter.

In the drawing, wherein the same reference characters have been used todesignate the same parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a perspective View illustrating one form of the pads in use;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the pad of with the outer surface exposed;

Figure 3 is an end view of the pad disclosed in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, Fig. 1 illustrates theupper edge 5a. of the pad 5 as being convexly arched so as tosubstantially conform to the contour of the lidcovered eyeball at whatmight be termed the ceiling of the eye socket.

On the other hand, the lower edge 51) of the pad is concaved so as toconform generally to the lower edge of the closed. upper lid at theinner ends of the eyelashes, as seen in Fig. 1. It will be observed thatin practice each pad 5 ineffect forms a cup which substantiallycompletely receives the closed upper lid and conforms to its shape asdefined by the subjacent eyeball. The lower edge of the pad lying alongthe line of the inner ends of the eyelashes, as stated, also generallyconforms to what might be termed the "floor line of the eye socket.

The ends of the pad are rounded, as shown, to substantially conform tothe ends of the eye socket. It will therefore be apparent from aninspection of Fig. 1 that when the pad has been saturated with eyelotion, water, or the like, and applied to the closed eye the edges ofthe pad will substantially abut the walls of the eye socket. Therefore,Wind will not pass between the edges of the pad and the eye to result inthe pad blow- Figure 1 ing off. In effect, the walls of the eye socketprovide a screen or abutment for the edges of the pad so that if thewind is blowing it strikes the outer surface of the pad inwardly of theedges thereof tending to maintain the pad in place rather than dislodgeit.

As heretofore indicated, the pad is formed of fabric or fabric-likematerial, and Fig. 4 discloses its outer surface as being defined by twoplies 6a of closely woven material preferably 3 black or other darkcolor. On the other hand, the inner surface-defining ply 6 is relativelythinner than the outer plies 6a and will be preferably of white materialand less tightly woven than the outer plies 6a.

Between the inner surface-{providing ply 6 and the inner one of thedark, outer plies 6a is interposed a sheet of flannel, cotton, or othersoft material 8 capable of absorbing or storing so to speak, aconsiderable quantity of moisture. The shape of the plies 6, 6a and 8 isthe same, and their edges are aligned with one another and so retainedby means of the endless line of stitching 1 slightly inwardly of the padmargin.

When using the pad it is first saturated preferably in a solution ofboric acid, or other eye wash, although water can, of course, be used.It is then disposed on the closed upper lid, as indicated in Fig. 1,with its concaved lower edge resting at the inner ends of the eyelashes,and the upper convexly curxed or arched edge lying along the contour ofthe eyeball and eye socket, as previously mentioned earlier herein.

The doubled black outer plies 6a exclude light rays but absorb heattherefrom so as to promote evaporation of the moisture from the fillingstrip or pad 8 through the thinner lid-contacting ply 6. The verythickness of the dark outer plies 6a resists outward evaporation ofmoisture therethrough. The evaporation of moisture through the inner plyproduces a suction which materially aids in retaining the pad in placeon the closed eye. Also, the edges of the pad are shielded by the eyesocket walls, as aforementioned, so as to prevent entry of a dislodgingair current between the pad and the eyelid.

Although I have illustrated the pad as having two dark outer plies 6a,it will be obvious that one heavy, closely woven outer ply will servethe same purpose and that they form what might be termed a relativelystifi outer shell for the device as compared to the moisture-holdingintermediate pad or strip 8 and the eyelid-contacting inner ply or strip6. The stitching 1 adjacent the margin also cooperates with the heavierouter ply or plies 6a in forming what might be termed a stiffening ormarginal rim for the pad, which is helpful in retaining it in cup-likeform when in use.

The use of a solution of boric acid or some eye lotion is advantageousnot only for the soothing effect which will be produced should some ofit reach the eyeball, but also because the solid matter in the solutionimpregnates the outer plies 3a., tending to stiffen same in cup-likeeyecovering form. This is obviously an aid in retaining the pads inplace.

I find that closely woven material such as black satin, gingham, andblack broadcloth are admirably suited for the outer plies 6a. The innerwoven ply 6 may be made of gauze or any light and preferably looselywoven material. The use of a white inner ply 6 has advantage also ofenabling the user to see that it is clean.

The use of heavy and preferably dark outer plies 6a is especiallyadvantageous in largely restricting evaporation through the inner ply Bwhen a volatile cooling solution such as witch hazel is used forsaturating the pad, and subjecting the closed eye and lid to anagreeable cooling action caused by evaporation of the witch hazel.

If the pads are used for an extended period at a time, it is preferablethat they should be periodically wetted, as mentioned.

Practical use of these pads over a long period of time has demonstratedtheir characteristics of remaining in place even in a strong wind. And,as earlier pointed out herein, the use of my pads avoids leaving whitemarks on the face surrounded by sun tan, as would be the case whereadhesive strips or spectacle temple bars or the like are used forretaining the pad in place.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

An eye shield comprising a flexible multiple ply pad consisting of anouter layer of a relatively thick fabric which is relatively imperviousto sunrays and moisture and is heat absorptive, an intermediate layer ofabsorbent material and an inner layer of relatively loosely wovenfabric, said inner layer being porous to permit medicament or water inthe intermediate layer to travel through said inner layer to the eyelid,and marginal stitching securing said plies together, said shield havingan upper convex contour and a lower concave contour and being rounded atits respective sides, said shield when moistened being adapted to beplaced on the closed eyelid and conform to the shape thereof and furtheradapted to be confined within the bony conformation of the orbital areawhereby the edges of the pad lie substantially within and adjacent theoutline of the orbital area to thereby prevent dislodgement of theshield by air currents.

MARIE LOOS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 438,800 Cassidy Oct. 21, 18901,990,199 Nemzok Feb. 5, 1935 2,001,862 Battey May 21, 1935 2,365,032Wilkinson Dec. 12, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,602 GreatBritain Mar. 14, 1868

